"Is this it?" Principal Yaga Masamichi placed an owl-shaped Cursed Corpse on the table.
Hajime studied it closely. "Yes,"
Yaga continued, "this device is a new collaborative creation from Gojo Satoru, Mei Mei, and myself. It doesn't fight—it captures images and broadcasts them on regular TV."
Hajime hesitated. "Why a live broadcast? It feels… strange."
Yaga quoted Gojo calmly: "The public needs hope to overcome their fear of Curses. We'll make it entertaining—like superheroes. Show them how easily you exorcise a Curse, and perceptions change."
He sighed. "That won't solve everything, but it will calm the panic. Meanwhile, the mastermind hasn't moved yet, so prevention remains our strategy."
Hajime couldn't refuse. He drew some comfort knowing Gojo and Yuta Okkotsu would also appear. Yaga continued: "It'll be a trial run. You three—and Maki—will be featured. She'll serve as your camerawoman."
Maki raised an eyebrow. "So I'm the camerawoman?"
Hajime quickly added, "We can't bring a supervisor on-site. We need distance. Better someone with cursed-energy training."
Yaga nodded. "Once charged with cursed energy, the device can broadcast for a long time—just carry it on your shoulder."
---
At the Assigned Apartment in Chiyoda
Within hours, cameras went live across Tokyo. Phones and TVs buzzed with the unexpected broadcast. Official announcers introduced the event, and businesses paused to allow employees time to watch—even bosses joined in.
Young and old, people tuned in with fascination. High schools couldn't prevent students from watching. Suddenly, supernatural powers weren't myth—they were real.
Adults worried. They'd heard Curses were immune to bullets. Officials now offered reassurance: only Jujutsu Sorcerers, real-life superheroes, could handle them. Knowing this offered a fragile comfort.
Murmurs about fleeing the country faded when citizens learned Curses were worldwide. If anyone could combat them, maybe they weren't hopeless.
---
The Broadcast Begins
"This has to be it… Maki, ready?"
"Almost. It's finicky, give me a second."
The screen shimmered and a perfectly composed face filled the screen. Women gasped over his youthful charm and heroic aura; men whispered questions about his power. Students dreamed of hidden abilities.
A banner read: Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer—Kamihara Hajime.
The name sparked excitement. Could a teenager be that powerful? Hajime and Maki arrived at the evacuated building.
"You're up against a Grade‑2 Curse," Maki reminded him.
Hajime nodded, recalling Yaga's instructions. Revealing their cursed technique live counted as a binding vow, one potentially amplified under public eyes—he was about to test that.
He stepped in front of the camera. "My technique is called 'Time Wheel,'" he announced. "It allows me to manipulate time."
Gasps reverberated from viewers. Controlling time? Incredible.
Meanwhile, Maki filmed as Hajime blinked—and suddenly appeared at the apartment door, dozens of meters away. Viewers murmured in disbelief, awed by his instantaneous movement.
He glanced at Maki with a smile—he could feel the extra energy, the subtle boost the vow granted. It wasn't a breakthrough yet, but his technique felt noticeably sharper.
---
Ascending to the fifth floor, a thunderous knock rattled the hallway.
"They evacuated everyone?" Hajime whispered.
"Yes," Maki replied, passing him the owl device. "No surprises—only the Curse remains."
Back in Tokyo, commentators urged calm. Through his earpiece, a female voice guided him: "Define Cursed Spirits and reassure viewers."
He faced the camera: "Cursed Spirits are born from negative emotions. This one is Grade‑2, low-level and unskilled. They rely on cursed energy, not weapons. Most humans can't hurt them—but they're not invincible. Fear is often worse than the curse itself."
At the top of the stairs, the Curse revealed itself—an upright, tentacled creature with grotesque deformed features. The live audience went quiet, stunned.
Hajime advanced, empty-handed. "Don't be afraid. Look at it closely—it's ugly but basic."
He stopped just outside its reach. Drawing back his fist, he aimed for a demonstration without full technique bank.
Hajime thought: Sorry, I'm not going to end this fast. Let them see.
With a swift blow, he obliterated the creature's head. Its body collapsed. No flashy techniques—just a powerful punch.
On-screen, in real-time, the audience witnessed:
Cursed Spirits can be defeated.
Hajime offered a small bow and turned to Maki. The broadcast was live—messy, real, human.
In that moment, under millions of eyes, their mission began.
---